Collection: Dark Sky Compliant

Residential Exterior Wall Lights

The wall sconce is the most common source of glare on a house, and the easiest one to fix. These three shield the light source and send their output down onto the doorstep, deck, or driveway.

• Pitch Single Outdoor LED Wall Light by Visual Comfort Modern: Sean Lavin's angular die-cast sconce in Black, Bronze, Charcoal, or Silver, at 5", 12", or 19" tall. It is wet-rated with IP65 sealing, ADA and Title 24 compliant, and dims on ELV controls. Mount it as a downlight to keep it Dark Sky compliant. Mood: a crisp angle that points the light where it belongs.
• Silo Outdoor Down Wall Light by Hinkley: A compact 8" cylinder from Hinkley's Coastal Elements line, made of composite that resists rust and corrosion. It comes in Architectural Bronze, Black, or Satin White. It is a downlight only, producing 500 lumens at 3000K with the GU10 bulb included, and it is wet-rated. Mood: a simple cylinder built to stand up to salt air.
• Sodor Outdoor LED Wall Light by dweLED: An industrial barn-style shade in aluminum over a glass diffuser, in Black or Bronze. The small is 8" wide with a 9" projection and the large is 10.63" wide with an 11" projection. The integrated 3000K, 90 CRI LED dims down to 10 percent on ELV controls. It is wet-rated with IP65 sealing, Title 24 compliant, and backed by a five-year functional warranty. Mood: a classic barn light that keeps its glow aimed down.

Post-Top & Path Lighting

Post lights are often the tallest light sources on a property, which makes shielding even more important. A bare bulb at that height can be seen from the end of the block. These three keep the light source hidden and send it toward the ground.

• Atlantis Outdoor Post Light by Hinkley: An open aluminum post top built from crisp rectangular planes, 6.8" wide and 24.5" tall, in Bronze or Satin Black. Two recessed MR16 LEDs produce 880 lumens at 3000K and 90 CRI, lighting the inside of the frame instead of the street. It is wet-rated and ADA and Title 24 compliant. The post is sold separately. Mood: an architectural frame with the light tucked inside.
• Balthus Outdoor LED Post Light by Modern Forms: Mouth-blown hammered glass in a metal frame with strap detailing, 8.5" wide and 23.38" tall, in Black or Oil-Rubbed Bronze. The integrated LED gives 500 lumens at 3000K and 90 CRI and dims on ELV or TRIAC controls. It is wet-rated with IP65 sealing and mounts on a post up to 3" in diameter. Mood: a vintage lantern with modern shielding.
• Turbo Outdoor LED Light Column by Visual Comfort Architectural: Sean Lavin's 12-foot die-cast aluminum column for driveways, motor courts, and larger properties, in Charcoal or Bronze. Choose a 20° or 40° beam and 2,100 or 4,517 lumens, with a 3000K option for a warmer outdoor scheme. Confirm the exact model's DarkSky approval and local suitability; do not select a 4000K version on the assumption that the whole series qualifies. It dims on 0-10V controls, offers an optional button photocontrol, and has impact-resistant acrylic lensing, IP65 sealing, and a five-year warranty. Mood: a tall, slim column for serious area lighting.

Ceiling Lighting

A porch roof can help limit spill, but it does not make every fixture beneath it dark-sky friendly. Choose a downward-directed design and verify its distribution and mounting orientation.

• Swell LED Pendant Light by Pablo: A spun aluminum dome in Black, Brass, or White, each with a brass interior, in six sizes from an 8" narrow to a 24" wide. The included 3000K LED bulb produces 800 lumens and dims on TRIAC or ELV controls. It is damp-rated, so hang it on a covered porch or in a breezeway out of direct rain. Mood: a brass-lined dome under the porch roof.
• Twilight Outdoor Semi-Flush-Mount Ceiling Light by Hubbardton Forge: A shallow metal dome first designed in 2011 and made in the United States. It comes in a 6" small or a 9" medium, in five Coastal finishes plus Oil-Rubbed Bronze. The medium is available with an included 2700K LED bulb. It is damp-rated and carries a lifetime limited warranty for residential installations. Mood: a warm, low glow that stays close to the ceiling.
• Abalone Point Outdoor Flush-Mount Ceiling Light by The Great Outdoors: A rustic metal dome, 12" across and 9.5" tall, with light filtering through small cutouts in the shade. It is wet-rated, so it works on open porches, pool houses, and gazebos, and it takes a standard E26 bulb (not included). Mood: a pierced-metal glow over the porch.

Dark-Sky-Friendly Lighting Checklist

The difference usually comes down to where the light source is and which way it points. Here's how to tell.

The quick test: Stand across the street at night and look at the fixture. If you can see the bulb, the light is reaching your eyes instead of the ground.

Installation matters: A compliant fixture can become non-compliant if it is mounted the wrong way. Adjustable designs like the Pitch can be installed as an uplight, so confirm the orientation with your installer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Dark Sky compliant" mean?

The phrase may describe a manufacturer's dark-sky-friendly design or a configuration intended to meet a local ordinance. DarkSky Approved is a separate third-party designation with specific requirements, including a maximum color temperature of 3000K. Check the exact model and configuration for formal approval, and check local requirements separately.

Do I need Dark Sky fixtures where I live?

It depends on your area. Many cities and counties, especially near observatories, coastlines, and wildlife habitats, have outdoor lighting ordinances that limit uplight and glare. Check with your local building or planning department before you buy. Even where they aren't required, shielded fixtures reduce glare and are friendlier to your neighbors.

Can a fixture with glass or cutouts still be Dark Sky compliant?

Possibly, but glass or cutouts alone cannot establish compliance. Check the fixture's documented light distribution, shielding, color temperature, and mounting orientation. Look for approval of the exact configuration when certification is required, and ask a lighting specialist to confirm local suitability.